People Magazine’s Style Watch Issue for August 2008 showcases rose gold, also known as pink gold or red gold jewelry.  I love pink gold jewelry for its extraordinary rich color and its style versatility.  Pink, red or rose gold is achieved by mixing pure gold with a certain amount of copper.  We have several beautiful examples of artisan crafted pink gold jewelry here at Brightwater Cove.com. 

Rebecca Overmann is an independent artisan jeweler, who works from her studio on the west coast.  Her designs are characterized by their simplicity and elegance.  Her pieces evoke feelings of delicateness and gracefulness and this is further emphasized as her jewelry moves with the wearer.

Her “Floating Dot Necklace” is a wonderful example of her craft.  A substantial disk of 14k pink gold, adorned by a lovely 2pt. diamond, floats on a 16″ 14k gold chain.  This necklace looks wonderful alone, or layered with other necklaces.  Rebecca also crafts a fantastic “Diamond Dot Ring,” a simply stunning statement piece in pink gold. 

To see these Rebecca Overmann handcrafted jewelry pieces and also other beautiful examples of artisan crafted gold and sterling silver jewelry, visit our website. 

Ann at Brightwater Cove.com

Since ancient times, gold jewelry has been a prized and valued commodity.  The earliest evidence of gold jewelry dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, around 3000 BCE and the Ancient Mesopotamians, around 2600 BCE.  Jewelry was fashioned as amulets for religious and protection purposes, for ornamentation, as a symbol of wealth and as an investment. 

Due to its enduring quality and its beauty, gold jewelry has lost none of its perceived value in the ensuing centuries.  Here are 7 things you should know to help you when you purchase and store gold jewelry.

1. Pure gold is 24 karats; however, 24 karat gold is a soft metal, too soft for jewelry making.  Gold is generally mixed with just enough other elements, usually copper, or silver, to give it the strength needed for every day use, but still maintaining its traditional luster.  18k and 14k gold are most commonly used in jewelry making.
2. When assessing gold, we speak of karate, with a k.  This terminology is distinct from carats, with a c, which is a measurement used for the weight of precious stones. 
3. If you think of a karat as a fraction, then pure 24k gold = 24/24.  18k gold = 18/24, or 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals.  In other words, anything stamped 18k gold should be 75% gold.  14k gold is approximately 60% gold and 40% other metals.    
4. In the United States, for an item to be called gold, it must be at least 10 karats.
5. Pure gold, 24 karats, will not tarnish.  Usually, 18k, since it is 75% gold, will not tarnish either.  14k gold, however, can dull and tarnish, without care. 
6. Gold can be designed in different colors, depending upon the additional alloys used.  Yellow gold is usually a combination of gold and copper and silver.  Pink, or red gold is usually gold with the addition of copper.  White gold can be a combination of gold with nickel, zinc, platinum and silver.
7. Gold jewelry can get nicked and scratched over years of use.  This will generally add to its heirloom quality, however, it is a good idea to protect your investment.  Wrap your gold jewelry in a soft cloth and keep each piece separate from other pieces of jewelry in your jewelry case.  To inhibit tarnishing, you might like to place your wrapped 14k gold jewelry into a sealed plastic bag. 

Ann Collins

www.brightwatercove.com

The Wide Cuff Bracelet

Wide Cuff Bracelets are popping up everywhere in fashion magazines, mostly in gold, the signature metal of the season. In fact, wide cuff bracelets are a timeless fashion accessory. Check out any vintage fashion pictures and you will see many beautiful styles of wide cuff bracelets.

At Brightwater Cove, we are offering a fabulous gold filled wide cuff bracelet handcrafted by Alice Roche. Alice studied and practiced architecture for several years and you can really pick up on this sensibility in her jewelry. The wide cuff is a beautiful geometric shape and there is playfulness in the repeating circular pattern. The shapes are reminiscent of a mod 60’s influence, but the brushed finish gives this piece a very up-to-the-minute, modern edge. This bracelet will look beautiful against tanned skin this summer and equally lovely this winter over a narrow sleeve.

Ann at Brightwater Cove

Hello and Welcome to our Blog. Check in with us in the future for news about fashion and jewelry and please feel free to chat with us about any of our jewelry pieces.

Since this is our first entry, we thought it might be best to introduce ourselves and tell you a little bit about Brightwater Cove. We are a small company based in central Florida. We began the company because we love beautiful handcrafted jewelry and found that it was hard to find such pieces at the mall, or at our local jewelry stores.

We carry jewelry that we love to wear; chic, stylish, unique pieces that are beautifully made. It’s also important to us that we are supporting American jewelry artists. All of our jewelry is designed and handcrafted by independent jewelry artists working in studios throughout North America. Our artists take pride in their imaginative artistic vision and their high standards of craftsmanship. We know that you will enjoy wearing these hard to find pieces that will reflect your singular style.

Thanks for reading our first blog. We are looking forward to chatting with you, in the future, about jewelry, fashion and design.

Ann at Brightwater Cove